Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Bohol Cost of Living Comparison Between Manila and Bohol

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $927 per month in Manila vs $455 in Bohol, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,501 per month in Manila vs $799 in Bohol, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,074 per month in Manila vs $1,144 in Bohol, rent included.

Manila costs about 104% more than Bohol, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Manila and Bohol are more affordable than the global median – Manila 33% lower, Bohol 67% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.16 ₱324

$8.14 ₱511

-36.61%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$25.86 ₱1,621

$31.86 ₱1,997

-18.83%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$3.93 ₱246

$3.27 ₱205

20.18%

Cappuccino

$2.52 ₱158

$1.87 ₱117

34.76%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.36 ₱85.1

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.83 ₱52.1

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.13 ₱70.8

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.74 ₱172

Milk (1 liter)

$1.90 ₱119

$1.64 ₱103

15.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.43 ₱89.6

$0.91 ₱57.2

57.14%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$0.98 ₱61.4

$0.97 ₱61.0

1.03%

Eggs

$2.23 ₱140

$2.01 ₱126

10.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.99 ₱501

$7.39 ₱463

8.12%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.69 ₱294

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.81 ₱427

$9.72 ₱609

-29.94%

Apples (1kg)

$3.32 ₱208

$1.46 ₱91.6

127.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.83 ₱114

$0.99 ₱62.1

84.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.98 ₱187

Tomato (1kg)

$1.86 ₱116

$1.95 ₱122

-4.62%

Potato (1kg)

$2.26 ₱142

$1.85 ₱116

22.16%

Onion (1kg)

$2.70 ₱169

$4.90 ₱307

-44.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$2.10 ₱131

$2.40 ₱151

-12.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 ₱34.83

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.20 ₱201

Wine (Bottle)

$9.61 ₱602

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.32 ₱83.0

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.10 ₱132

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.46 ₱29.04

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.68 ₱795

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.83 ₱52.3

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.23 ₱14.47

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$1.86 ₱117

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.24 ₱77.6

$1.18 ₱74.0

5.08%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.3K ₱1.3M

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$19.3K ₱1.2M

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$122 ₱7,647

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.83 ₱930

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$23.95 ₱1,502

$22.41 ₱1,405

6.87%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$42.46 ₱2,662

$14.19 ₱890

199.22%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 ₱363

$5.73 ₱359

1.05%

Cinema Ticket

$6.88 ₱431

$4.01 ₱251

71.57%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$621 ₱38.9K

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$8,865 ₱555.8K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.5 ₱3,604

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.04 ₱1,758

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$77.6 ₱4,866

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$57.9 ₱3,628

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 ₱33.5K

$191 ₱12.0K

179.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$287 ₱18.0K

$157 ₱9,857

82.41%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,928 ₱120.9K

$321 ₱20.1K

499.89%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$664 ₱41.6K

$285 ₱17.9K

133.01%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,356 ₱273.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$2,555 ₱160.2K

$534 ₱33.5K

378.80%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$473 ₱29.7K

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

7.43

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Manila: September 8, 2026

Last update for Bohol: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $534 in Manila versus $191 in Bohol. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Manila versus $32.00 in Bohol. Groceries tell a different story – $220 in Manila vs $160 in Bohol – so Bohol wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Manila vs Bohol: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Manila is pricier by about 104%, and the gap shows up most in Clothing & Footwear. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,391 per month in Manila and $682 in Bohol. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bohol, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Groceries cost about 37% more in Manila, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $26.00 in Manila and $32.00 in Bohol. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Bohol, where all-in costs run around $455, than in Manila at $927. In Bohol it covers expenses comfortably, while in Manila it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Bohol – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Bohol. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Manila makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.